Brazil’s president said former leader Jair Bolsonaro was “actively” taking part in storming government buildings.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has alleged that his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro was actively engaged in planning for his supporters. burst into government office on January 8, when a senator revealed the far-right ex-president attended an anti-election conspiracy meeting.
“Today I am well aware and will say loud and clear: that citizen [former president Bolsonaro] preparing for a coup,” Lula said in an interview with RedeTV! on Thursday.
Refusing to accept Bolsonaro lose the electionThousands of his supporters broke into the presidential palace, the National Assembly buildings and the Supreme Court in Brasilia a week after Lula’s inauguration.
The former president was not in the capital at the time and did not attend Lula’s inauguration. Bolsonaro has been in the US state of Florida since the end of December.
“I’m sure Bolsonaro was actively involved in that and is still trying to get involved,” Lula added when asked about his predecessor’s role in the attack.
Lula’s allegations against Bolsonaro came the same day Senator Marcos do Val accused the former president of attending a meeting on how to prevent the transfer of power.
According to Val, the plan was to force the President of the High Electoral Court Alexandre de Moraes to say something accusing him while secretly recording him.
De Moraes is a favorite target of Bolsonaro supporters, who allege he meddled in the election to help Lula.
Do Val, a former Bolsonaro ally, initially told Veja magazine that it was Bolsonaro who presented the plan to him, but later changed his version of the story, saying that the former president still “” silence” during the meeting.
“‘I canceled the election, Lula didn’t take the oath of office, I stayed in the presidency and arrested Alexandre de Moraes for his comments,'” Bolsonaro was quoted as saying by Val.
His accusations dominated local news on Thursday, and the senator was called to give testimony to the Federal Police.
Bolsonaro has not commented on the matter on any of his social media channels.
The former president, who requested a six-month visa to stay in the United States, is under investigation as part of an expanded investigation into the January 8 attacks.
